Introduction: The study was designed to determine if there was a difference between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) MRI technique between different malignant focal liver lesions. Patients and methods: The study included 63 patients with focal hepatic lesions: fourteen patients (22.2%) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 16 patients (25.4%) with hepatic metastatic colorectal tumors, 17 patients (26.9%) with cavernous haemangioma and 16 patients (25.4%) with hepatic cysts. MRI was performed with 1.5T scanner, using EPI sequence with ADC values being determined for all lesions based on three b values. Results: ADC values were statistically different among the groups (F=70.7, p<0.01): HCC patients 1.11+0.29x10- 3 s/mm2, metastatic tumours 2.18+0.15x10-3 s/mm2, haemangioma 2.22+0.32x10-3 s/mm2, cysts 3.08+0.03 x10-3 s/mm2. Furthermore, there was statistically significant difference between benign lesions (haemangioma and cysts, 2.36+0.43x10-3 s/mm2), and malignant diseases (HCC and secondary tumors, 1.52+0.58x10-3 s/mm2), t=5,6, p<0.01. Conclusion: DWI technique could be helpful in defining the focal liver lesions.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging with Two Differentb-Values in Detection of Solid Focal Liver Lesions